Electrical appliance



No v. 20, 1945.

A- A. M CORMACK ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2'7. 1942 Patented Nov. 20, 1945 UNITED ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE Alex A. McCormack, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a

corporation of Delaware Application March 27, 1942, Serial No. 436,422

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an electrical appliance and more particularly to a distributor for use in airplanes and the like.

One object of this invention is to provide a distributor suitable for use in high altitude flying.

One of the problems in the design of a distributor for use in high altitude flying is that of preventing sparking. It is an object of this invention to provide an improved distributor wherein the contacts are sealed within a chamber filled with an inert gas such as nitrogen.

Another object is to provide means for preventing condensation within the distributor.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for indicating the loss of inert gas from the contact chamber.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved arrangement for sealing the contact chamber.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view partly in section of a distributor embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the distributor with the cap removed so as to show the arrangement of the contacts.

' Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the shaft seal structure.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary eievational view showing the shaft.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the shaft seal spring washers.

Fi 6 is a view of the same washer taken at right angles to Fig. 5. Y Fig. 7 is a plan view of a washer.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a washer used for locking in place. the washer shown in Fig. '7.

The distributor comprises a main frame III in which the main drive shaft I2 is journaled. The shaft I2 is adapted to be driven from an engine (not shown) in accordance with well known practice. The distributor contact I6 is mounted on the end of the shaft I2 so as to rotate therewith. A cap member I8 is secured to the main frame III preferably by means of a threaded connection such as the connection 20. A gasket 22 is provided between the cap I8 and the frame I 0 so as to provide a gas tight joint between the cap it and the frame III. Reference numeral 24 designates a thin flexible wall which forms one portion of the cap I 4. It has been found desirable a frame III.

to charge the contact chamber 26 with a dry inert gas such as nitrogen and to maintain the inert gas within the chamber above atmospheric pressure so as to prevent air from leaking into the chamber, and so as to more effectively prevent destructive arcing. The flexible wall 24 is designed so that when the pressure of the inert gas is adequate, the wall assumes the full line position shown in Fig. 1 but assumes the dotted line position if an appreciable amount of the inert gas has escaped from the contact chamber. By virtue of this arrangement, it is possible 'to determine whether or not any appreciable amount of inert gas has escaped from the distributor merely by looking at the shape of the flexible wall 24.

Stationary lead-ins 28 are provided in the manner shown. The number of lead-ins required is determined by the number of cylinders to which spark impulses are to be distributed. A special lead-in 29 is provided for supplying electricity to the main distributor contact I6. A rubber-like insert 30 is provided for each stationary lead-in. This insert is preferably formed of a synthetic rubber such as neoprene or "Hycar and is preferably vulcanized to the lead-in prior toassembly. After the lead-in together with the rub ber-like insert and a washer 3 I have been mounted in place, the metal adjacent the washer is spun over the washer, as shown at 32 in the drawings. so as to wedge the rubber insert in place whereby a gas tight joint is formed between the contact and the casing. In order to compensate for distortion of the insert, I have provided a separate contact mounting element 34 made of some suitable insulating material such as Bakelite or the like which is secured to the main frame I0 and carries the contacts 36 which are accurately spaced with respect to the main distributin contact I6. Each of the contacts 36 is electrically connected to one of the terminals 28 by means of a spring element 38 arranged as shown in the drawings. By virtue of this arrangement, any inaccuracy in the mounting of the lead-in contacts does not interfere with the position of the main contacts.

In order to prevent the escape of inert gas between the shaft I2 and the casing III, a specially designed shaft seal means has been provided. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, a main casing I0 is provided with an irregular bore 40 in which the shaft seal mechanism and the shaft bearings are mounted. As shown in Fig. 3, two sets of ball bearing assemblies 42 and 44 have been provided for supporting the main shaft I2 within'the main The outer race 48 of the ball bearing assembly 44 is held in place between the shoulder 48 provided by the bore 40 and the retaining member 50. The retaining member 50 is held in place by the nut 52. the nut 52 and the retaining member 56 so as to provide a gas tight joint between the retaining member 50 and the main frame III. The inner race 56 of the'ball'bearing unit 44 is fixed onto the shaft I2 between the flange 58 which is formed integral with the main shaft I2 and the collar 60 which is held in place on the shaft I2 By virtue of this conby means of the pin 62. struction, the shaft is prevented from moving A gasket 54 is provided between,

Lubricant retaining means I02 has been provided longitudinally within the bore 40. The ball bearing assembly 42 may be held in place in any suitable manner such as by shrinking. It will be noted that the ball bearing assembly 42 is mounted in a cavity immediately adjacent the end wall of the main distributor housing I whereby it serves to rigidly support the driving end of the shaftl2.

In order to prevent the escape of inert gas from the contact chamber 26 into the lubricant chamber' I00, a first shaft seal generally designated by the reference character 64 is provided. This shaft seal comprises a relatively stationary sealing ring'66 which is resiliently supported by the retaining member 50 by means of the resilient insert 68. jo'intbetween the ring 66 and the retaining member 50. A rotatable sealing ring is arranged in sealing engagement with the ring 66 and is supported on the shaft I2 so as to rotate with the shaft. A gasket I2 is provided for sealing the joint between the ring 70' and the shaft I2. The rotatable sealing ring III is biased into sealing engagement with the stationary ring 66 by means of a pair of oppositely disposed resilient washers 14 which are bowed as shown in Figs. 3

and 6. The'washers 14 are disposed between a flat'washer 16 arranged in contact with the gasket I2 and a washer "I8 carried by the shaft I2.

The washer I8 is held in place on the shaft I2 by the element 80 which extends into the groove 82 provided on the shaft I2. The washer 8!), as shown in Fig. '7, somewhat resembles a horse shoe in that the one side is cut away so as to enable the washer to be slipped into the grOOVe 82. After the washer 80 has been slipped into the groove 82, it is held in place by the washer 18 which is recessed at 84 so as to accommodate the washer 80. By virtue of the fact that the ring 66 is resiliently supported, and by virtue of the fact. that the shaft I2 is prevented from moving longitudinally any appreciable extent, substantially fiat washers may be used for biasing the sealing rings in engagement whereas otherwise relatively large coil springs would be required.

A somewhat similar shaft seal is provided between the ball bearing assembly 42 and the ball bearing assembly 44. This latter shaft seal comprises stationary sealing ring 86 resiliently supported by the gasket 88 carried directly by the main frame In and a rotatable sealing ring 90 carried by the shaft I2. A gasket 92 similar in construction and operation to the gasket I2 is provided for sealing the joint between the ring 90 and the shaft I2. A washer 94 is provided adjacent the one face of the resilient gasket 92. A pair of bowed spring washers 95 is provided between the Washer 94 and the collar 60 for biasing the sealing rings 90 and 96 into sealing engagement with one another. The washers I4 and 96 are sufiiciently strong so as to compress the refor preventing the escape of lubricant or grease from the end of the ball bearing assembly 42.

At high altitudes, the lubricant in the chamber IN is subjected to a pressure higher than the prevailing atmospheric pressure but lower than the pressure of the inert gas within the contact The member 68 also serves to seal the chamber. By virtue of this arrangement, the total pressure drop is divided between the two seals so that neither seal is required to withstand the full pressure drop. Furthermore, with this arrangement, it is apparent that the high pressure. inert gashelps to bias the sealing-ring 10 into sealing engagement with'the sealing r-ing t5 and the pressure within the-lubricant chamber H20 helpsto bias the sealing ring" into sealing engagement with the sealing ring 86. 1

As shown in Fig, l, a charging plug III) has been provided in one wall of the mainframe It. This plug is provided with a central passage. I I2 through which a gas charging plunger -I I4 may be inserted. The inner'end of the gas feeding passage [I I2 isv normally sealed bymeans of the valve element i.I6.. A spring-I i8 biases the valve H6 into sealing engagement with-the plugIIIl. A passage I29 is provided between themain contact chamber- 2$ andthe valve Ii6.-g 'I-he gas charging plunger H4 is in the formof' a hollow pipe which is adapted to-be connected -to.;a supply of high pressure gas and which is providedwith an aperture i22 at its inner-end.- By pushingthe plunger I14 inwardly through the bore H2; the valve plate H6 is displaced so astoallow gas under pressure to be supplied to thegascha'mber.

All of the gaskets shown and described herein may be made from any one of several well known rubber substitutes which are not injured by lubricant. The sealingrings tdflil, Stand 90 are preferably made from some wear" resisting metal alloy such as Nitralloy. For purposes of illustration, I have shown a metallic casing whereas it is apparent. that many ofthedi'e'atures of my invention are equally applicable to distributors having non-metallic casings. 1

While the form of embodimentofthe invention as herein disclosed constitutes a, preferred form, it is to be understood 'that'other forms might be adopted, all comingwithin the scope of the claims which follows; 7 r

What is claimed is as-follows-:-

1, A distributor for use in-high altitude flying comprising in combination, a easingra first chem her in said casing adapted'to eontain'inert gas under" pressure, a second-chamber ithinsaid casing, a shaft projectingthrougnone Wfill'flf said casingand extending through said second chamber and into the first chamber,- bearing means for said shaft comprising a first hearing and a, second bearing, one of wbichis' disposed withinsaid second chamber,--shaft seal means preventing the escape of ine t sfrom uaictfirst named chamber and said second named chamber, shaft seal meansfor preventing the escape-30f fluid fromsaid second named" chamber to the outside atmosphere, a plurality of contacts projecting into said first named chamber, a distributor contact mounted on said shaft within said first named chamber for distributing spark impulses to said contacts, said first named chamber including a flexible wall portion, said second named chamber adapted to contain a supply of lubricant maintained at a pressure above at mospheric pressure but low the pressure of said inert gas.

2. A distributor comprising in combination, a

main frame, means cooperating with said frame forming a high pressure gas chamber, circuit making and breaking means disposed within said chamber, a bearing aperture in said frame, a shaft journaled within said aperture, a pair of shaft seal means disposed within said aperture, said shaft seal means being spaced from one another on said shaft so as to provide a lubricant reservoir therebetween, means for subjecting the lubricant within said reservoir to a pressure higher than atmospheric but lower than the pressure within said gas chamber, one of said shaft seal means having its pressure side disposed toward said gas chamber and the other of said shaft seal means having its pressure side disposed toward said lubricant supply reservoir,

3. In combination, a main frame, means cooperating with said frame forming a high pres sure gas chamber, a bearing aperture in said frame, a shaft journaled within said aperture, a pair of shaft seal means disposed within said aperture, said shaft seal means being spaced from one another on said shaft so as to provide a lubricant reservoir therebetween, said lubricant within said reservoir being subjected to a pressure equal to or higher than normal atmospheric pressure but lower than the pressure within said gas chamber, one of said shaft seal means having its pressure side disposed toward said gas chamber and the other of said shaft seal means having its pressure side disposed toward said lubricant supply reservoir.

4. In a distributor for use in high altitude flying, a casing having a contact chamber containing an inert gas under pressure and having a shaft seal chamber containing a supply of lubricant, distributor contacts mounted in said contact chamber, a shaft rotatably supported in one wall of said casing for imparting rotation to one of said contacts, shaft seal means within said shaft seal chamber for preventing the fiow of fluid along said shaftfa bearing for said shaft disposed within said shaft seal chamber, said shaft seal means comprising a first shaft seal having its pressure side disposed towards the inert gas within said contact chamber and a second shaft seal having its pressure side disposed towards the lubricant within said shaft seal chamber.

5. In combination, a casing having a contact chamber adapted to contain a supply of inert gas under pressure, one wall of said casing comprising a flexible portion adapted to be bowed outwardly in response to a predetermined pressure differential between the inside of said chamber andthe outside atmosphere, electrical leads projecting through the wall of said casing, resilient bushings supporting said leads, a shaft journaled in one wall of said casing, a contact carrying ring disposed within said casing in fixed relationship to said shaft, contacts carried by said contact ring, electrical connections from said leads to said contacts, a pair of spaced shaft seal means preventing the escape of gas from said chamber along said shaft, bearing means for said shaft disposed between said shaft seals, the space between said shaft seals forming a lubricant sump containing a body of lubricant for said bearing means, and means for imparting rotation to said shaft, said body of lubricant being adapted to be maintained at a pressure below the pressure of the gas within said contact chamber and above atmospheric pressure whereby the pressure difference between opposite sides of each shaft seal is less than the pressure difference between said contact chamber and the atmosphere.

6. In combination, a casing having a contact chamber adapted to contain a supply of inert gas under pressure, electrical leads projecting through the wall of said casing, resilient bushings supporting said leads, a shaft journaled in one wall of said casing, a contact carrying ring disposed within said casing in fixed relationship to said shaft contacts carried by said contact ring, electrical connections from said leads to said contacts, a pair of spaced shaft seal means preventing the escape of gas from said chamber along said shaft, bearing means for said shaft disposed between said shaft seals, the space between said shaft seals forming a lubricant sump containing a body of lubricant for said bearing means, and means for imparting rotation to said shaft, said body of lubricant being adapted to be maintained at a pressure below the pressure of the gas within said contact chamber and above atmospheric pressure whereby the pressure difference between opposite sides of each shaft seal is less than the pressure difference between said contact chamber and the atmosphere.

ALEX A. MCCORMACK. 

